ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office arrested Bridgette Simmons for child abuse Tuesday after she grabbed her neighbor's child by the neck and shirt "in an attempt to show how she could be kidnapped and what would happen," according to a police report.
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The report said Simmons tried to escort the girl to her father while repeatedly asking the child if she knew what would happen if she was kidnapped.
While Simmons attempted to escort the child, she lifted her by her shirt twice and her neck several times to show her how she could be easily kidnapped, according to the report.
In a panic, the child ran from Simmons toward her father "screaming and yelling," according SJSO.
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After the father confronted Simmons, who was a complete stranger to the child's family, the child was temporarily left with Simmons, who then kissed her on the neck and forehead, according to the police report.
The mother of the child tells Action News Jax that the child was not temporarily left with Simmons, but with Simmons' neighbor.
SJSO said the child was shaking and crying after the incident and told police she believed she would have a difficult time sleeping or trusting people afterward.
Simmons is currently in St. Johns County Jail on $3,000 bond. She was charged with battery and cruelty toward a child.